Health

Red Cross needs help to avert a blood shortage After a summer of declining donations, the American Red Cross needs the public’s help to prevent a blood shortage. Right now, the Red Cross especially needs type O negative, type O positive and type B negative blood...

San Benito County public safety and health officials are sounding the alarm about the dangers of fentanyl—a powerful opioid—after a recent and ongoing spike in drug overdoses. In the last three months alone, 17 people in San Benito County have suffered opioid overdoses, requiring emergency...

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital is celebrating a year of meaningful progress in quality and safety. The Obstetrics (OB) team earned three 2025 Quality and Engagement Awards from the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC), while the Emergency Department completed BETA Healthcare Group’s Quest for...

Chorale holiday concerts San Benito Oriana Chorale will present their Christmas season concerts on Dec. 13 at San Juan Bautista Mission (406 Second Street in San Juan Bautista) at 7:30pm; Dec. 15 at Christ Fellowship Church (2066 San Benito Street) in Hollister at 6:30pm; and...

Sixth-grade teacher Hector Jimenez has organized science fairs the past two years at Rancho San Justo Middle School, with the latest one Nov. 16.  “It’s more of a museum science fair environment,” said Jimenez. “Students just walk around. Once they find a certain project they...

A new website is now available for anyone who is seeking reproductive care in California, the governor's office announced Sept. 13. The new abortion resource website, abortion.ca.gov, provides information regarding privacy rights, abortion steps, types of abortion, how to find emotional or financial support and...

The Hollister Firefighters Local 3395 enjoyed a warm, sunny day Sept. 9 for the public safety union’s second annual fundraising golf tournament at Ridgemark Golf Club.   A total of 108 golfers played in the 2022 tournament, according to Taylor Siemann, Hollister Fire Engineer and Local...

San Benito County is now formally the “Home of Pinnacles National Park,” as local officials and tourism proponents dig into their efforts to promote the site as an economic development wellspring.  The board of supervisors at the Jan. 13 meeting unanimously approved a proclamation declaring...

Local authorities this week began cleaning up homeless encampments in the San Benito River bed in an ongoing effort to remove hazardous materials and direct unhoused people to services and more stable shelter.  San Benito County is leading the effort in partnership with the City...

The Office of the State Fire Marshal recently established a statewide program to allow qualified applicants to support Cal Fire in its defensible space and home hardening assessment and education efforts, says a press release from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.  Qualified...